Futterman From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1301 posts, RR: 52 Posted (7 years 6 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1791 times:
Hey guys.
Studying for an AP Environmental Science midterm the other day, I ran into a little fact that has the potential to become a bit chaotic.
The United States’ reserves of fossil fuels (namely oil) can be depleted in as little as 25 years. Politics and Alaskan drilling aside, for argument’s sake, let’s just say that fossil fuels—from which Jet-A and other forms of fuel are obviously derived—won’t be economically feasible forever, and the ‘expiration date’ is nearing.
What alternatives are there in terms of fuel? There are syn-fuels and other synthetic substances that can be formed from things like coal, and there’s also the possibility of using biomass (being the renewable energy source that it is) in producing fuel.
I’m no chemist, biologist, mechanic, or engineer...but your guesses are as good as mine. What are some realistic contingency plans when the non-renewable resources from which Jet-A and other fuels are derived run out?
KYIPpilot From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 1383 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (7 years 6 months 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1727 times:
I was told in a class at school that within the next 10-20 years, hydrogen cars will be available in large quantities. The technology for it is here, but it is still pricey. But, once it becomes common in cars, the amount of oil used by cars will drop significantly, leaving much more available for ships and airplanes to suck it down.
But eventually, it will run out for aircraft, too. Who knows what will happen then. Mag-Lev trains will probably replace air travel (domestically at least), but this is years and years away. They are testing them in Japan right now, and apparently they are quick and effiecient.
"It starts when you're always afraid; You step out of line, the man come and take you away" -Buffalo Springfield
Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2777 posts, RR: 18 Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1695 times:
Hi guys.
>> Futterman.
Just last night I came across a short TV program about fuel that was pretty interesting.
A young man was explaining how he was using old "Cooking Grease" (that's already been used in restaurants for deep-frying french fries), to power his diesel Mercedes Benz.
Basically, he would strain the liquid grease by using filters (much like coffee filters) to remove any food particles. He would then add Methanol (Methyl Alcohol), and water (I think the water was distilled) untill he had the correct mixture. Unfortunately, the grease - water - methanol ratio wasn't explained in detail (the video was sped up - to hide the formula I guess).
Anyhow, they showed this guy with several 50 gallon drums of these liquids at the back of his driveway, and he mixed these raw materials together in his garage.
Then you watched him manually pump the final product (which looked like yellowish water when shown in a glass bottle) from a 50 gallon drum into his Mercedes' gas tank, start the engine ............ and drive off.
He said this bio-fuel burned much cleaner than fossil fuels, and that the exhaust actually had the pleasant smell of "cooked french fries". Seriously!
So, because this guy was using this stuff in a diesel engine, and diesel fuel is similar to jet fuel, perhaps one day it will be used in jet engines, and the outside air around all Major International Airports will smell like a McDonald's! (personally, I LOVE the smell of Kerosene better).
Eventually, jet contrails will fill the skies with the nice aroma of french fries!
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